Pennsylvania v. Wright (majority)
Annotate this CaseAppellee was sentenced to death for the 1998 murder of James Mowery. Although represented, Appellee filed a pro se document in federal court, demanding that his direct appeal be discontinued and that he be allowed to proceed immediately to execution. Appellee also filed papers reflecting that he wished to discharge counsel due to irreconcilable differences, and that counsel was forbidden to communicate with Appellee. Shortly thereafter, in December 2008, the Supreme Court affirmed Appellee’s judgment of sentence. Appellee asked the federal district court to supply him with a replacement attorney to assist him in pursuing guilt-phase claims at federal court. The court denied the request, stating that Appellee had not established the existence of an irreconcilable conflict with counsel. Separately, Appellee petitioned the Third Circuit Court of Appeals for mandamus relief in the form of an order directing the district court to rule on his pro se filings. In August 2010, the Third Circuit denied the petition without prejudice, retaining jurisdiction and instructing the district court to determine whether Appellee was competent to waive counsel. The Commonwealth appealed an order finding Appellee incompetent to waive his state post-conviction rights, including his right to counsel. The Supreme Court determined the Commonwealth was not entitled to relief, and ultimately affirmed the PCRA court's order.
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